A Brighton doctors’ surgery has been given a good rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The official watchdog carried out an inspection of the Montpelier Surgery, in Victoria Road, Brighton, less than a year after highlighting safety concerns.

The surgery was found to have responded to the CQC’s concerns and was rewarded with a good rating for safety and a good rating overall.

Professor Steve Field, the chief inspector of general practice, said: “We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection of this practice on (Thursday) 15 September 2016. The overall rating for the practice was good.

“However, a breach of legal requirements was found during that inspection within the safe domain.

“After the comprehensive inspection, the practice sent us an action plan detailing what they would do to meet the legal requirements.

“We conducted a focused inspection on (Wednesday) 22 March to check that the provider had followed their action plan and to confirm that they now met legal requirements.

“During our previous inspection we found the following area where the practice must improve
• Establish appropriate security and tracking of blank prescriptions for use in printers
• Conduct regular fire drills

“Our previous report also highlighted the following areas where the practice should improve:
• Continue to identify patients within the practice who are also carers
• Ensure drug safety updates are acted upon in a timely manner, in accordance with practice policy

“During the inspection on (Wednesday) 22 March we found
• Arrangements were in place for the safe security and tracking of prescriptions
• The practice conducted regular fire drills in accordance with practice policy

“We also found the practice was taking steps to identify patients within the practice who were also carers.

“There was information about services available to carers in the practice waiting room and on the website. Carers information packs were available at reception.

“The numbers of carers registered at the practice was now 72, which was an increase from 58 at the last inspection and represented more than 1 per cent of the practice list.

“Drug updates were acted upon in a timely manner in accordance with practice policy. There was lead GP responsible for cascading alerts and subsequent actions were recorded.”

The Montpelier Surgery has about 5,800 patients. The accountable person, Dr Jessica Cramp, was one of two GP partners at the practice, supported by two salaried GPs, a practice nurse and a healthcare assistant.